JaMarcus Russell looks to pass against the San Diego Chargers on Monday in Oakland.

JaMarcus Russell looks to pass against the San Diego Chargers on Monday in Oakland.

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson fumbles the ball and is brought down by Oakland Raiders defensive end Greg Ellis during the first quarter Monday in Oakland. The Raiders recovered the ball.

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson fumbles the ball and is brought down by Oakland Raiders defensive end Greg Ellis during the first quarter Monday in Oakland. The Raiders recovered the ball.

Photo: Paul Sakuma, AP

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TheRaiders Michael Bush crosses the goal line making a touchdown in the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers.

TheRaiders Michael Bush crosses the goal line making a touchdown in the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

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Oakland Raiders linebacker Kirk Morrison gestures after San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is sacked in the first quarter Monday in Oakland.

Oakland Raiders linebacker Kirk Morrison gestures after San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is sacked in the first quarter Monday in Oakland.

Photo: Paul Sakuma, AP

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San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles, left, carries the ball on a 59-yard kick return as Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski, right, tries to stop him during the second quarter.

San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles, left, carries the ball on a 59-yard kick return as Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski, right, tries to stop him during the second quarter.

Louis Murphy is tackled by San Diego Chargers Antonio Cason after making a first down in the second quarter.

Louis Murphy is tackled by San Diego Chargers Antonio Cason after making a first down in the second quarter.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

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Richard Seymour (92) of the Oakland Raiders sacks Philip Rivers (17) of the San Diego Chargers.

Richard Seymour (92) of the Oakland Raiders sacks Philip Rivers (17) of the San Diego Chargers.

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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Quarterback JaMarcus Russell of the Oakland Raiders hands the ball off to Michael Bush.

Quarterback JaMarcus Russell of the Oakland Raiders hands the ball off to Michael Bush.

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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(Left to right) Robert Gallery (76) and JaMarcus Russell of the Oakland Raiders celebrate after Russell threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Louis Murphy in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers.

(Left to right) Robert Gallery (76) and JaMarcus Russell of the Oakland Raiders celebrate after Russell threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Louis Murphy in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers.

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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Oakland Raiders Darren McFadden is brought down by San Diego Chargers Stephen Cooper after making a first down.

Oakland Raiders Darren McFadden is brought down by San Diego Chargers Stephen Cooper after making a first down.

Oakland Raiders running back Michael Bush is greeted by fans in the end zone after scoring a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers during the first quarter Monday in Oakland.

Oakland Raiders running back Michael Bush is greeted by fans in the end zone after scoring a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers during the first quarter Monday in Oakland.

Photo: Marcio Sanchez, AP

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Zach Miller runs after the catch against Clinton Hart of the San Diego Chargers on Monday in Oakland.

Zach Miller runs after the catch against Clinton Hart of the San Diego Chargers on Monday in Oakland.

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller is brought down by San Diego Chargers cornerback Steve Gregory in the first quarter Monday in Oakland.

Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller is brought down by San Diego Chargers cornerback Steve Gregory in the first quarter Monday in Oakland.

Photo: Paul Sakuma, AP

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The Raiders' Michael Bush scores on a 4-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter against Kevin Burnett of the San Diego Chargers on Monday in Oakland.

The Raiders' Michael Bush scores on a 4-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter against Kevin Burnett of the San Diego Chargers on Monday in Oakland.

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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Michael Bush of the Oakland Raiders is tackled Monday in Oakland.

Michael Bush of the Oakland Raiders is tackled Monday in Oakland.

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 14: Darren Sproles #43 of the San Diego Chargers scores the game-winning touchdown on a 5-yard rushing TD in the fourth quarter against Ricky Brown #57 of the Oakland Raiders on September 14, 2009 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) less

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 14: Darren Sproles #43 of the San Diego Chargers scores the game-winning touchdown on a 5-yard rushing TD in the fourth quarter against Ricky Brown #57 of the Oakland Raiders on ... more

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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Louis Murphy makes a 57 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers.

Louis Murphy makes a 57 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

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Ostler: Raiders show signs of life in loss

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Remember all the terrible things people said and wrote about the Raiders during their wild, rocky preseason?

Those people (OK, I'm one of them) were way wrong. Or were we?

Are the Raiders really back from the dead, rescued from the abyss of slapstick? Or are they headed for another disastrous season?

You could make the case either way after the Raiders lost 24-20 to the visiting San Diego Chargers on Monday night.

The Raiders' faithful will spend the week wailing and railing about the league conspiracy that removed an Oakland touchdown in the first half. The replay officials took a long look at a 19-yard pass from JaMarcus Russell to rookie wideout Louis Murphy and decided that Murphy let the ball squirt loose when he hit the ground.

It might be a bad rule; it almost surely was a good call, but you could say the same thing about the Tuck.

Otherwise, the Raiders looked great at times, especially on defense; looked horrible at times, especially on offense; and overall, gave a glimmer of hope that they are back.

It was a crusher of a loss on opening night for Raider Nation. Or was it?

The Raiders didn't roll into the season dreaming Super Bowl dreams, except maybe for Al Davis, whose dreams are sometimes dreamier than those of even the craziest Raiders.

The Raiders' players and coaches would never say it, but what they're playing for this season is something they haven't sniffed for six years: respect and respectability.

After one game, it looks like they have a shot.

They did a lot of sputtering and clunking on offense, but the defense laid some wood on the Chargers, until that fateful final drive.

With two and a half minutes left in the game, Russell, Davis' baby, threw a 57-yard touchdown to Murphy, who looks like a real wideout, as opposed to first-round bonus baby Darrius Heyward-Bey.

That pass seemed vindication for Russell on a very rocky evening when he mis- fired often. He was booed off the field more than once, and wound up the evening 12-for-30, with two interceptions and a 47.6 passer rating.

But that one touchdown was a thing of beauty, a page from the ancient book of Davis' beloved vertical offense.

Davis promised he would shore up the Raiders' leaky defense, and he did. He got defensive linemen Greg Ellis and Richard Seymour, although for a while, the Seymour transaction looked less like a trade and more like a Shanghai-ing.

On Monday, Seymour helped contain a strong and versatile (supposedly) San Diego offense, proving that maybe it wasn't heart or desire, but talent, that the Raiders' defense has been lacking in recent years. On one first-half play, Seymour fought off a ferocious double-team block to grab quarterback Philip Rivers.

Ellis, acquired from Dallas, was also effective, giving some evidence that maybe ol' Al Davis hasn't completely lost his chops.

But the jury is still way out on Davis' baby quarterback. Tom Cable, on orders from Davis, has handed his offense to Russell, and there is much polishing to be done.

Russell was wild most of the night, just plain off-target. If Brian Sabean ran this club, he'd send Russell back to Double-A to learn to get the ball over the plate.

Russell was roundly booed off the field in the third quarter after a three-and-out series that included two errant passes. Then he got knocked out of the game with six minutes left, but returned later in that series, soaking in more boos after being sacked with less than three minutes remaining.

Russell threw a 25-yard, on-the-money laser to Johnnie Lee Higgins, on a 3rd-and-14 play, but Higgins dropped it when he was drilled. It's hard to tell right now which is the bigger Raider problem - throwing the ball or catching it.

Fans can boo Russell and clamor for backup Bruce Gradkowski (2-for-2) all they want, but Davis won't give up that easily. He still believes in his prized draftees Russell, running back Darren McFadden and Heyward-Bey.

McFadden rushed 17 times for 68 yards. Heyward-Bey dropped two passes in the first half and wound up with zero catches for zero yards.

Cable has a lot of work to do with that offense.

Still alive is the Chargers' win streak against the Raiders (now 12 games), and still alive is the Raiders' losing streak on "Monday Night Football" (now seven games).